With an increasing number of vehicles on roads and the problem of parking in the city of Mumbai, BMC will implement a decentralised parking plan under the newly constituted Mumbai Parking Authority (MPA).

The plan, green-lighted  by municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, will start in August with a pilot project in BMC’s  three administrative divisions, D Ward which includes Malabar Hill, Tardeo and Girgaon, S Ward which includes include Bhandup, Powai  and Vikhroli and K- West Ward which includes Andheri W and Vile Parle West. Former bureaucrat Ramanath Jha is the advisor to MPA.  

The parking plan includes online parking reservations, systematic planning of parking spaces and streamlining of fee structure. BMC aims to maximize optimum utilization of the available space in the wards for parking. A mobile application will be developed to enable vehicle owners to find parking lots. All agencies, housing societies and commercial complexes can add available parking slots in their premises to the mobile application.

The Development Plan 2034 and Development Control and Promotion Rules 2034 recommended setting up of a Mumbai Parking Authority for parking management, unclogging of streets and roads, safe, affordable and convenient parking in public spaces within the BMC area. The MPA will carry out work related to the management, planning and control of all roads and roadside parking lots under the jurisdiction of the BMC.

Revenue generated through the parking plan will be used for improving roads and parking infrastructure.

The authority, headed by additional municipal commissioner (projects) P. Velrasu, will also study legal issues required to institutionalize MPA, preparation of comprehensive plan for parking management in all 24 administrative wards of BMC, policy and study on fixing parking rate, proceedings regarding traffic signs and billboards, communication at different levels of the parking lot with positive behaviour change, adoption of IT based vehicle management, creation of a city parking pool (an online aggregator platform with details of all parking spaces available in the city) for proper utilization of parking space in government, commercial and residential buildings in the city, study appointment of parking marshals, taking action regarding parking reservation in the development plan, make arrangements for scientific disposal of scrapped or unused vehicles at the selected three wards  as well as the use of underground parking and space under flyovers.

Chahal wants all other government agencies which have parking areas under them to be intimated to participate in CPP.

The BMC had earlier initiated an online survey to understand mental attitude of Mumbaikars towards parking their vehicles at a local level. The survey asks questions like the rate of charge of parking and overall quality of parking in their respective areas. Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, Regional Transport Office (RTO) and Traffic Division of the Mumbai Police will also be part of MPA.